"That's What's Important"

Over the past week or so, I've found myself saying "That's what's important." I realized that every time I've said that, it's been over rather ridiculous stuff - things that really aren't important. The things that are most important in life (well my life anyway) aren't objects or activities but people. YOU are what is important. I've figured out that if you aren't important to yourself, it's hard for other people to make you important to them. If you don't love or respect yourself, how can you expect someone to love or respect you?  

Growing up, I heard "You get what you give." While I think this is true, you can't give what you don't have. It's a basic of life. Just like what goes up, must come down. I've seen so many people who hate themselves. It's a pretty common thing these days, but it's one of the most tragic as well. I, personally, have been on both sides of the fence. I think the real trick to life, is being ale to see yourself for all that you are. And with that, you can do anything. 

As a society we are so contradicting. We start off telling our kids lies and then wonder why they don't trust us later in life. Well, who was it who told them that Santa, the Tooth Fairy, or Spiderman was real? "But it's all in good fun, Paige." Yeah, I'll say the same to you when you're kid says he/she doesn't believe in a god. I'm not meaning to come off as rude here, but I think it's about time that as a society and culture, we realize the impact of our words - or lack there of. In the words of my dad, there is someone looking up to you. Whether you like it or not. I have decided, that I want to make sure someone can look up to me and not be ashamed of what they see. 

I was honored by a guy at work today. He was an older gentlemen, wearing scrubs and had a stethoscope around his neck. Since I was in front of him, I opened the door and held it for him, as I would normally do. He looked at me and said "Oh no, chivalry won't allow that." He held the door and let me go through first. While most people might think, "Well, that's what he's supposed to do" I don't. I try to show an older generation some respect and normally, that's not the response I get. I don't see many people my age, do what I do. Nor do I fully expect them to. Us "kids" have seen enough of what we don't want to be that we'll do just about anything to not end up like the people before us. That's an error on our part. If you can't find ONE good thing about the people who are, let's say 70 and up, then I don't think you're looking hard enough. And if you still can't find ONE thing about ONE person, than maybe you should see if you can find one good thing about yourself. 

This is in part meant to be, at least slightly, motivational. But if nothing else - walk away from this looking at people in just a little bit of a different way. I work with A LOT of people who are at least twice my age. While I think most of them look at me like I'm still just a kid, I can pretty much guarantee you that they haven't met anyone like me yet. They've got a lot to learn, because 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' is just a lazy excuse. If you get a challenge out of this - than I did my job well. :)